LM Nov-Dec.2019

Nov.–Dec. 2019 LeadershipMatters

Dr. Kevin Blankenship 2020 Illinois Superintendent of the Year

Dr. Courtney Orzel New IASA Director of Professional Development WELCOME TO IASA!

Property Tax Debate Heating Up: IASA Is Here To Help C O N R A T I S N O A L U T G !

Dr. Kevin Blankenship was named 2020 Illinois Superintendent of the Year at November’s Joint Annual Conference in Chicago. Learn how his leadership is impacting students. IASA welcomes Dr. Courtney Orzel as the new Associate Director of Professional Development, effective July 1, 2020. Read about her journey to IASA. COVER STORIES

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15 What to know before

Joint Annual Conference recap in photos

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contacting IASA’s attorney

IASA News in Brief

16 Property tax debate heats up—IASA is here to help you prepare

Series Part XII: Making A Difference

20 Safe2Help Illinois initiative launches in January

IASA Calendar of Events

Volume 7, Issue 11 November–December 2019 LeadershipMatters 19229 Jason Nevel Director of Social Media & Communications jnevel@iasaedu.org

2648 Beechler Court Springfield, IL 62703-7305 217.753.2213 800 Woodfield Road, Ste. F109 Schaumburg, IL 60173-4717 847.466.5075

Graphic Designer Marjorie Gladish mgladish@iasaedu.org

1200 West Main Street Marion, IL 62959-1138 618.364.0501

www.iasaedu.org

Scan here with your phone’s QR code reader to get the IASA APP— Don’t have a QR reader? Go to or and search for IllinoisASA.

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Message From the Executive Director Recognitions AsWe Close 2019; Preparations for the Tax Debate to Come in 2020

Dr. Brent Clark

Looking ahead, one thing you can bank on is the spring legislative session won’t be boring. I suspect we haven’t seen the end of public corruption investigations, and the Illinois Senate will have new leadership after members select a new president on January 19. The big issue for school districts, however, will be what happens with property taxes. The General Assembly will likely act on a report issued by the Property Tax Relief Task Force detailing recommendations for short-term and long- term property tax relief. IASA will not be silent on this issue, I promise. In October, we hired Ben Boer as our new director of research and data analysis. One of the issues Ben has studied is the effect a potential property tax would have on school districts. We will share his research with the General Assembly and have a sit-down meeting with the governor and his staff and emphasize the significant impact a freeze would have. In addition, IASA is rolling out a new initiative to get superintendents more prepared for the debate that is coming around property taxes in Illinois. On page 16, you can learn more about what we plan to do. I hope each of you can take part in this initiative and learn more about how to use the Evidence-Based Funding Formula as a strategic communication tool to detail what it actually costs to provide students with access to a high-quality education. I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and can find time over the holiday break to spend quality time with your families, as well as relax and get rejuvenated for the remainder of the school year. Thank you for all you do, and I will see you in 2020.

The drive home from Chicago always provides ample opportunity to reflect on all the great interactions and inspirational messages I heard at the Joint Annual Conference. As I headed south on Interstate 55, IASA’s Women in Leadership pre-conference session came to mind. The second I walked into the room, the energy and excitement was palpable. Female superintendents were reconnecting, sharing stories and supporting one another. A lot of people deserve credit, but Dr. Courtney Orzel’s passion and enthusiasm propelled Women in Leadership to another level. Witnessing that was a reminder the IASA Board of Directors selected exactly the right person at the right time to push our tradition of high-quality professional development forward. Dr. Orzel will begin as IASA’s Associate Director of Professional Development on July 1, 2020. I look forward to seeing her put her personal touch on professional development and find new ways to support the needs of superintendents across our very diverse state. Also at the Joint Annual Conference, we had the opportunity to honor the 2020 Illinois Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Kevin Blankenship, dual superintendent of Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1, is a tremendous leader who works tirelessly to improve the educational environment for students. If you’re planning to attend the National AASA Conference on Education in San Diego, be sure to stop by our reception honoring Dr. Blankenship. You can find details about the event on page 8. To close, I want to touch on the fall veto session and preview the spring legislative session. There weren’t many fireworks during veto session, but we were pleased the legislature took a step forward in addressing the 900-plus unfilled paraprofessional positions in Illinois. SB 10 restores a provision that allows paraprofessionals to receive a license from ISBE if they pass a competency test. A legislative drafting error eliminated that pathway.

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Dr. KevinBlanke 2020 Illinois Su of theYear It’s a unique situation and one other educators, especially his fellow superintendents, ask Blankenship about. While he admits he’s been busy, Blankenship is not one to complain about any of the unique challenges he faces, like overseeing two budgets or keeping lines of communication open with two school boards. That selfless attitude is one of the reasons he’s earned the respect from staff in both districts he serves and why he was named 2020 Illinois Superintendent of the Year. “He prides himself in keeping quiet on those things and just doing everything he can to help both districts succeed,” says Joe Kuhlmann, preK–12 principal at Scott-Morgan CUSD #2. “He cares so much about the students and community and you will always see him willing to lend a helping hand, wherever it is needed.” Shared Superintendent Blankenship has been an educator for 25 years, including eight as superintendent. He currently serves on the IASA Board of Directors (Two Rivers Region) and is one of a handful of superintendents in Illinois who is also a certified police officer. Nominees for Illinois Superintendent of the Year are judged on the following criteria: leadership for learning,

Each morning when Dr. Kevin Blankenship pulls into the parking lot for work, he knows it won’t be long before he’s back in the driver’s seat. The superintendent of Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 for the past eight years is now also the leader of Winchester CUSD #1 as part of a shared-superintendent agreement the two school boards entered into locally. Being a dual superintendent requires Blankenship—the 2020 Illinois Superintendent of the Year—to be visible in each district. That means he typically spends the morning in one district and the afternoon in the other. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, Blankenship is one of two superintendents in the state to serve as a dual superintendent of two unit districts. Combined, the two districts he leads serve about 900 preK–12 students in west central Illinois. Roughly 50 percent of the students in the two districts are considered low income. By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

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ship erintendent

Click here to see video testimonials from those who nominated Dr. Blankenship for Superintendent of the Year.

communication, professionalism and community involvement. The Illinois Superintendent of the Year Selection Committee then reviews the applicants and chooses a winner. Blankenship received the award at the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago. “I am extremely honored and privileged to serve as superintendent of two tremendous school districts. Both school communities work hard every day to provide the best education possible for our students,” says Blankenship. “Illinois has so many outstanding superintendents that I also view this award as a reflection of the work that all superintendents do on a daily basis.” The genesis of his becoming a shared superintendent started when David Roberts, former superintendent of Winchester CUSD #1, announced his retirement in 2018. The leadership from each board discussed the idea of a shared superintendent and Blankenship expressed a strong interest with the possibility of leading both districts. Members of both school boards discussed the idea and a committee was formed to weigh the pros and cons. In the end, both boards recognized Blankenship was the right person to lead both districts forward. Three months into the school year, the transition has gone smoothly.

“Dr. Blankenship was the right choice to lead our district forward,” says Trista Freeman, school board member in Winchester CUSD #1. “He’s been great as far as communication with the board as well as maintaining visibility at both districts.” 21st Century Learning Since Blankenship was hired at Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 in 2012, the district has seen significant improvements in the areas of technology, academic performance and facilities. At that time, the district relied on a T-2 service line that couldn’t handle an abundance of devices at one time without crashing, not to mention a 1:1 initiative. Blankenship worked with community business leaders and the Rural Electrical Cooperative to bring fiber connectivity to the district. “The project was completed in my second year, and it really opened the technological learning gates in the district,” he says. Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 has since implemented a 1:1 initiative with Google Chromebooks, where students in grades 5–12 take home the devices. All third and fourth graders have Chromebooks at school and students in grades K–2 use iPads.

continued...

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Blankenship ... cont’d. In a few short years, Scott-

Morgan CUSD #2 transitioned from a district that lagged behind technology to a 21st century learning environment. “We have flooded our school with technology,” Kuhlmann says. Aligning Curriculum and Improving Assessment Scores

Professional development, however, is never a finished product in Scott-Morgan CUSD #2. Beginning this school year, the district’s leadership team plans to focus more on studying individual student growth versus whole classroom growth to better understand how each student is performing and to develop learning plans tailored toward each student. “Our district fostered countless hours of professional development that was provided by experts in the field and made the commitment to our staff to make the needed changes,” Blankenship says. Passed Two Referendums

Outdated textbooks and a curriculum that wasn’t aligned across grade levels was another focus for Blankenship. Under his leadership, Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 updated textbooks and curriculum and created a multi-year plan where teachers worked collaboratively to design new math, reading and ELA curricula. “We provided a stable, consistent, core curriculum to all students, which allowed our teachers and students to grow personally and professionally both in school and out,” Blankenship says. Improving scores on local, state and national assessments, especially at the high school level, was another priority for Blankenship. When he was hired, the average ACT score in Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 was below 16. Over the course of five years, scores increased 25 percent to an average of 20. In addition to technology enhancements and having an aligned curriculum, Blankenship credits the jump in assessment scores to transitioning the district toward a professional and student growth model of teacher and principal evaluation. Teachers in Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 are regularly evaluated and encouraged to reflect on their evaluations and develop individual professional development plans based on the feedback. The district also increased the amount of collaboration time teachers have to learn and grow with each other.

Also during his time as superintendent at Scott- Morgan CUSD #2, the district passed a property tax referendum to increase local funding. The increase in local revenue allowed the district to avoid eliminating positions or reducing programs at a time when pro-ration in general state aid forced many school districts to cut costs.

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“During a period of financial uncertainty, Kevin’s financial oversight and budgeting ability kept our district in great financial health,” says Gary Westermeyer, School Board President in Scott- Morgan CUSD #2. Blankenship was also a strong

voice in the passage of the County Schools Facilities Sales tax, which paved the way for major renovations to the elementary/junior high school in Bluffs. Those renovations included installing a much needed central heating and air conditioning system. The passage of both referendums was dependent on the district getting out its message and maintaining open lines of communication with the school board and community. Visibility was also a major factor. Staff, students and community members need to see the superintendent in the schools and at events. “I do as much as I can to spend time in each district,” Blankenship says. “I’ve found it’s really beneficial for me to be seen in each district.” Support of Staff Like many of her colleagues, Megan Little, a special education teacher at Winchester Elementary School, was slightly apprehensive about the idea of a dual superintendent. But

“It’s been very positive, and I have heard up and down the hallway here at school that everyone has great things to say about him and can see that the district is moving forward,” Little says. Andy Stumpf, principal at Winchester Elementary School, adds Blankenship’s knowledge of school finance stands out. “He’s looked at the budget and talked about some of the changes that need to be made and given us our budget and said this is what you get. Use it wisely,” Stumpf says. Discussions are underway in both communities about the possibility of other shared services which could benefit both districts. The building committee from each board has already met and discussed the possibilities to address the aging high school buildings. One building was constructed in 1914 and the other in 1921. For the time being, the plan is to see how a shared superintendent agreement goes. Whatever happens, Blankenship is ready. IASA Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark is confident he will be up for the challenge. “Kevin is a tremendous worker,” Clark says. “He’s smart. He’s perceptive and will do whatever is necessary to get the job done correctly. That’s Kevin. He will outwork almost anyone else around him.”

since Blankenship has come on board, those fears have receded.

See page 8 for details on reception honoring Dr. Blankenship as 2020 IL Superintendent of the Year...

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Joinus inFebruaryat the2020AASANational ConferenceonEducation inSanDiego for a ReceptionHonoring Dr. KevinBlankenship 2020 IllinoisSuperintendent of theYear

Scott-MorganCUSD#2and Winchester CUSD#1

Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 5:30–7pm

At theMarinaKitchenPrivateDiningRoom MarriottMarquisSanDiegoMarina SanDiego, California

Co-sponsored by:

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With special pay modes, generous sick leave, and unfunded mandates, schools have unique needs and challenges. At American Fidelity, we understand. And, we believe a generic benefits plan doesn’t always meet those needs. Since 1960, we’ve proudly focused on providing a different opinion to school districts. From benefits administration to regulatory guidance, we stand ready to serve as an extension of your HR department. See how American Fidelity has partnered with the education community: Watch Video Learn more at americanfidelity.com.

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Finance Knowledge for the Superintendent and Understanding for the Learning Community (AA#1202) Professional Development AcademyOpportunity

This academy will provide fundamental knowledge and skills for superintendents and the learning community that include school finance, administrative control measures, preparing the board of education for public discussions of finance issues, the Evidence-Based Funding Model and financial reports for the learning community. Participants will receive a “flash drive” which will have the financial data from 2015 through 2019 from the Annual Financial Reports (AFRs) and the budget figures from FY20 (2019–20) provided by the school district, downloaded on the drive by the ISBE presenters. The ISBE FY20 Projection Model and Cash Flow Template, also on the flash drive, will be used and participants will be able to work with their own school district’s data. Dr. William “Bill” Phillips, IASA Field Services Director, and ISBE Regional Financial Consultants will provide additional information on tax levy preparation, borrowing and bonds, school district finance cycles, making school finance presentations to your school board and community, and the EBFM. You need to register at least 10 days prior to the workshop to insure that ISBE will have adequate time to download the financial information for your school district. Please bring a laptop computer with a USB port and Microsoft Excel 2010 or newer. This academy qualifies for one (1) Administrators’ Academy Credit for FY20, or 6 CPDUs. Fee: $200 per person, includes lunch and AA credit entry.

Region

Dates

Locations

Registration Links

Presenters

North/ Northeast

Prairie Hills Jr. High School 16315 Richmond Ave. Markham, IL 60428

Register at Finance 12/5 Markham

Dr. Bill Phillips, IASA, and Mr. Aaron Schilling, ISBE

Thur., Dec. 5

Central

IASA Office 2648 Beechler Ct. Springfield, IL 62703

Register at Finance 12/10 Springfield

Dr. Bill Phillips, IASA, and Mr. Brent Appell, ISBE

Tues., Dec. 10

West/ Northwest

Bureau-Henry-Stark ROE 107 S. State Street Atkinson, IL 61235 St. Clair County ROE 1000 S. Illinois St. Belleville, IL 62220

Register at Finance 12/12 Atkinson

Dr. Bill Phillips, IASA, and Mr. Brent Appell, ISBE

Thur., Dec. 12

Southwest

Register at Finance 1/10 Belleville

Dr. Bill Phillips, IASA, and Mr. Carl Holman, ISBE

Fri., Jan. 10

19240 Contact Melissa at marney@iasaedu.org or 217–753–2213 with any questions.

www.iasaedu.org

Scan here with your phone’s QR code reader to get the IASAAPP— Don’t have a QR reader? Go to or and search for IllinoisASA.

IASAProud to WelcomeDr. CourtneyOrzel

As NewAssociate Director of Professional Development

Dr. Courtney Orzel has never forgotten an important lesson she learned years ago about professional development. “Never assume that a one-size-fits-all approach is going to work,” Orzel remembers. “It’s important to create professional development opportunities that are differentiated based on what the need is, and then be willing to be flexible and change the direction of what those who you are serving need in the moment. Also, never take the opportunity for granted and have fun!” Orzel, superintendent of Lemont-Bromberek CSD #113A, plans to incorporate that lesson when she takes over as IASA’s new Associate Director of Professional Development on July 1, 2020. She will replace Dr. Richard Voltz, who will retire on June 30, 2020 after 13 distinguished years with IASA. Service to IASAMembers The IASA Associate Director of Professional Development serves a critical role in strengthening the work of superintendents and preparing future leaders for the superintendency. IASA Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark says Orzel is exactly the right person at the right time to propel IASA’s tradition of high quality professional development forward. As a superintendent, Clark says, Orzel demonstrated tremendous leadership in helping get Lemont-Bromerek By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media & Publications

It’s important to create professional development opportunities that are differentiated based on what the need is, and then be willing to be flexible and change in the moment.

CSD #113A back on the right track . She also has an extensive background in professional development, including assisting with IASA programs and teaching principal leadership preparation and superintendent doctoral courses at the university level. “Dr. Orzel is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, dedicated and skilled leader who understands how to help superintendents best serve their staff and impact student learning,” Clark says. “She is a great addition to the IASA team, and I look forward to seeing how she can enhance professional development.” Why Join the IASATeam Becoming a superintendent was a dream come true for Orzel. And that hasn’t changed. She still loves the job and continued...

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Orzel ... cont’d. had no plans to leave Lemont- Bromerek CSD #113A to pursue another superintendency. However, the position with IASA was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. “When the Associate Director of Professional Development opportunity posted, it opened the door for a one-time chance in my career to do something that I would love just as much as being a superintendent,” Orzel says. “It combines the best of both worlds—working with the role of the superintendency and providing high quality professional development— both of which have a great impact on students…I truly believe it’s an opportunity of a lifetime.” Orzel says she plans to speak one- on-one with superintendents across the state to find out what professional development they are most interested in and what their districts could benefit from now and in the future.

School in Elmhurst CU #205 and later as an assistant principal/athletic director in Gower SD #62. Her next stop was at Forest Ridge SD #142, where she was a principal from 2006–2013. She served as superintendent there for one year before taking over at Lemont-Bromberek CSD #113A in 2014. Dr. Margaret Longo, the former superintendent at Forest Ridge SD #142, encouraged Orzel to pursue the top post. “She gave me many opportunities at the district level to learn and grow and that is when I realized that I would like to aspire to the superintendency one day,” Orzel says. As a superintendent, Orzel led Lemont-Bromberek CSD

I’m most proud of being part of one of the best comeback stories in the state, thanks to the incredible students, board, staff, parents and community in Lemont.

#113A out of financial watch status and worked tirelessly to rebuild trust with the community and staff. The Illinois State Board of Education profiled the district in its Illinois Sparks series in a story titled, Coming Back from Crisis as a Whole Community . “I’m proud of so many things in Lemont-Bromberek CSD #113A, but I’m most proud of being part of one of the best comeback stories in the state thanks to the incredible students, Board, staff, parents and community in Lemont,” Orzel says. “We stabilized the finances, returned programming back to students, turned a vacant school into a haunted house to become an award winning project in the State of Illinois, and consistently created additional opportunities every year for students to thrive. It’s a special district with a great story—and the very best people you’ll ever meet.” Passion for Professional Development Throughout her career, Orzel has sought out professional development—including through IASA’s School for

She has immense respect for the work that Dr. Voltz has done in this role and is looking forward to building on the foundation he has created while learning, listening and growing future professional development opportunities for superintendents and their districts. “Providing high quality professional development for sitting and aspiring superintendents is critical for the success of our school districts,” Orzel says. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to work with Dr. Clark, the IASA Board of Directors and staff and superintendents across the state.” Journey to theSuperintendency Orzel grew up in Clinton, located about 30 minutes south of Bloomington. She is an only child and a first-generation college student. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, master’s degree from Concordia University and doctorate from University of Illinois. Her teaching career began at the junior high in Riverside SD #96. She later held numerous positions at York High

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Advanced Leadership program—and worked hard to share her knowledge in order to help others achieve personal and professional growth. She has been involved with numerous professional development initiatives with IASA and the Illinois Principals Association. Those include being a co-leader of IASA’s Aspiring Superintendent Academy, a presenter at the IASA New Superintendent Conference and co-chair of IASA’s Women in Leadership, which began last year as a way to bring female superintendents together to grow and learn from each other. In addition, Orzel has presented at numerous local, state and national conferences and has been a leader in helping superintendents better understand how to use Twitter to change perceptions and attitudes about their school districts, expand their PLN and get professional development. All of the experiences have given her a broader perspective and a better understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that exist within the state. Furthermore, it helped her better understand and fully realize that important lesson she learned years ago about professional development—“Never assume that a one-size-fits-all approach is going to work.”

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2019–2020 SENATE BILL 7 Performance Rankings Tool SOFTWARE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

All Illinois School Districts are working to comply with the requirements of education reforms. For years, the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) has worked to provide support via the Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings File . This program gives districts a method of managing district positions aligned to local qualifications, teacher’s credentials, and performance ratings. The program compiles this local data and creates reports needed to comply with Senate Bill 7. The 2019–2020 file has been enhanced with updates in response to user ideas, and is ready for you to purchase and download. The cost of using this software has never increased and the annual licensing fee is $275 for members and $550 for non-members.

Find the access request form at http://www.iasasurveys.org.

Please note that previous versions of the IASA Senate Bill 7 Performance Rankings File are no longer supported. Also, the service method for the 2019–2020 software will be via email only.

This software was originally reviewed by the Senate Bill 7 teams from the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the Illinois Education Association (IEA). The 2019–2020 version of this software builds on the knowledge gained from hundreds of users.

LegalCorner

When in Doubt, Call.

Chad Watkins IASA Associate Director/General Counsel Over the past month and a half, I have been able to meet many of you and have learned more about how hard each of you work on behalf of students statewide. As all school leaders know, however, there are times when that hard work comes with tough questions that may require legal assistance. As your attorney, I am ready to take your call. But before you grab the phone, it may be helpful to understand my role is subject to some parameters that

need to interact with the court system in some capacity. Traffic violations, wills, family issues, personal injuries, and many more circumstances could require a lawyer and/or representation in court. Given the nuances in each of these areas of law, your representation would be best handled by your own personal attorney who has experience in these areas. Finally, we’ve reached the lane where I drive, the employment lane. In this lane, I can be the point of contact for matters related to your employment at your school district. This includes

may limit the scope of my representation. In some situations, your issue may be better suited for the board attorney or even one who can represent you personally. In this article, I hope to sketch a broad outline of those parameters, so you know who to call when an issue arises. To help illustrate this, I’m going to use a driving analogy and consider the parameters using lanes: a district lane, a personal lane, and an employment lane. In the district lane, I am referring to all matters that constitute the business of the district. For example, this would include student matters, employee issues, labor relations, and board governance (Freedom of Information Act, Open Meetings Act, etc.). For questions on how your district should handle issues that arise within this lane, your board attorney should be contacted. Just as our lives can take unexpected turns, the personal lane of legal issues can move in many directions. There will likely come a time when you will

anything related to your contract, including disputes over interpretation or drafting the initial agreement. My representation may also cover situations in which adverse action is taken against you by the board of education, even before any tangible steps have been taken. As you are well aware, these lanes are not static. Both district and personal matters can veer into the employment lane, and matters within the employment lane can also swerve into a district or personal matter. In cases with the potential for overlap, we will discuss the boundaries carefully, so you can get the representation that you need, at the time you need it. To be sure, assessing which lane your issue falls within is not always easy, but if you are ever uncertain about whether you need to call or who you need to call about a legal matter, you can always start with me and call 217–753–2213, or email at cwatkins@iasaedu.org .

For District Legal Issues

Call Your Board Attorney

For Personal Legal Issues

Call Your Personal Attorney

RE: Your Employment With the School Board YES Please Contact Me

217–753–2213 cwatkins @ iasaedu.org

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TheDebateonPropertyTaxes IsHeatingUp IASAWants toHelpYouWin theArgument

Like it or not, school districts will be at the center of what’s sure to be an intense debate about property taxes being too high in Illinois. If superintendents sit on the sidelines of this debate, a school district’s ability to reach, or continue to provide, what research shows is appropriate to provide a high-quality, evidence-based education to our children could suffer. By December 31, 2019, the Property Tax Relief Task Force will issue its report detailing recommendations for short- term and long-term property tax relief, and the General Assembly and lawmakers will take up the issue when they convene in the spring. What if there was a mechanism to identify what property taxes should be for every school district, determined what the state should do to provide an appropriate amount of By Jason Nevel IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

revenue and, finally, allowed school districts to determine locally if they were willing to pay more or less than the state determined appropriate? There is. The Evidence-Based Funding Formula. As the debate about property taxes heats up, EBF could be the most powerful tool superintendents have in educating their local legislators on the ramifications of a major property tax relief plan. That’s why superintendents need to be prepared. The stakes are simply too high—no matter what part of the state your district resides or in what tier you are currently funded— to ignore. What IASA hopes to do over the next few months is share with superintendents the data-driven tools they need to help win the argument.

Why is thedebateabout property taxesheatingup?

You may recall, the Senate passed a property tax freeze in May, but the General Assembly eventually settled on forming a Property Tax Relief Task Force to study the issue further instead. The task force will issue a report by December 31 detailing recommendations for short-term and long-term property tax relief. Then, the General Assembly and lawmakers will discuss the recommendations when they convene in the spring.

In November, voters will have the chance to change the 1970 state constitution by authorizing a graduated-rate tax based on the size of income and repealing the currently mandated flat-rate income tax. The graduated income tax was a hallmark of Gov. Pritzker’s campaign, and he will undoubtedly pull out all stops to get it passed. As a way to increase voter turnout in November, IASA anticipates the promise of property tax relief to be packaged with the graduated income tax.

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What toolsareavailable tosuperintendents?

The Evidence-Based Funding Formula can provide superintendents with a figure of what it actually costs to provide students with a high-quality education. That figure is known as a district’s Adequacy Target. To find out what your district’s adequacy target is CLICK HERE , download/save, then open the Excel spreadsheet and click its “Base Calc” tab.

The Illinois State Board of Education also provides school districts with an extremely helpful tool to determine if school districts are overstaffed, understaffed or properly staffed. The tool is called the FY 20 Adequacy Target Gap Analysis. To download this Excel Spreadsheet, CLICK HERE .

Analysis. This resource can help superintendents determine staffing levels for your district and individual buildings. By understanding how to use both resources effectively, superintendents will be much better suited to effectively communicate when it comes time to have conversations with legislators, and stakeholders, about property tax rates. If all this sounds confusing, that’s OK. This article is intended as an introduction to this new initiative and to get superintendents thinking about this important issue. In the podcast, webinar and workshops we will dive deeper into better understanding how EBF can be used as a tool for strategic planning, strategic communication and help superintendents win the important debate that is coming around property taxes in Illinois. AnsweringThreeQuestions What we want to leave you with is three questions. You don’t need to have an answer to these now, but you should be able to answer them by the time the General Assembly convenes in Springfield for the spring legislative session. The three questions are: 1. Is my adequacy target sufficient to meet the demand for service in my district? 2. How does my staffing and services compare to the research- based design for the students that we serve? 3. What is the fiscal responsibility for the state and our district, and how can we rightly design our tax rate? We hope everyone can start thinking about these questions and then take part in the podcast, webinar and one of the workshops. We will be sharing dates in the future on when those will be. Doing so will help superintendents be prepared for the debate that is coming around property taxes. Trust us, it’s not one superintendents want to lose.

In addition to this article, IASA will produce a podcast, host a webinar and schedule a series of workshops to better educate superintendents about how to effectively use data to communicate with legislators, and your stakeholders, that the investment into your school district is worth it. What EBFCanDo While the Evidence-Based Funding Model was seen by many as a tool to help funnel more money to the neediest school districts, it also provided districts with a strategic communication tool in detailing what it actually costs to provide students with access to a high-quality education. That figure is what’s known as a district’s Adequacy Target. Every superintendent needs to be aware of it. And so too should your local legislators and stakeholders. That’s not all the formula can do. EBF can be used by superintendents to determine what your local property tax rate should be based upon need, access to property wealth, location in the state and relative ability of all other school districts. Odds are, what your local tax rate currently is, and what the EBF formula says it should be, is different. That’s OK. Stakeholders in your community might demand a higher level of service. Or, perhaps, your district doesn’t have the resources to meet the staffing levels the formula suggests. What’s important is superintendents are able to articulate what and why and build a data-driven narrative to support that decision. In other words, be able to use data and explain the return on investment. However, EBF is not the only tool available to superintendents. The Illinois State Board of Education also has produced a FY 20 Adequacy Target Gap

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These things that make you different, unique and special are actually the best things about you. —Kelsey Tainsh

Are you embodying the spirit of the conductor and taking the time to understand the true desires and intentions of the students you lead? —Kai Kight

IASB • IASA • IASB JOINT ANNUAL CON

Novem Hyatt Reg Sheraton

It’s time to stop apologizing for who you are. It’s time to become who you were made to be. —Rachel Hollis

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Everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership is the difference maker. —Matt Mayberry

ERENCE er 22–24, 2019 ncy Chicago (Co-Headquarters), rand Chicago (Co-Headquarters) Chicago

I view this award as a reflection of the work that all superintendents do on a daily basis. —Dr. Kevin Blankenship

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Safe2Help Illinois Initiative Launches in January By Mike Chamness Chair, Illinois Terrorism Task Force

S T O P

The State of Illinois is planning to launch Safe2Help Illinois early in 2020 as a centerpiece of its school safety efforts. One of the recommendations of the state’s School Safety Working Group (SSWG), the Safe2Help initiative will include a social-media based 24/7 helpline handled by specially trained analysts as well as a training/education component for students from preK–12. According to after-action reports, in virtually every mass school shooting perpetrated by another student or students in the past two decades in our country, at least one other student knew something bad might happen but chose not to come forward with that information. The Safe2Help program will offer students a confidential way in which to report information regarding threats of school violence, suicide, bullying or other issues. Legislation will be introduced in the spring session to ensure that the identity of those sharing information will remain confidential and to protect that information from FOIA requests. Safe2Help Illinois is being developed after a study of similar programs in Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, and Wyoming. The nation’s first statewide tip line, Safe2Tell Colorado, was implemented a few years after the Columbine attacks and last year received more than 18,000 tips. While school attacks grab the headlines and were the impetus for the programs, the No.1 tip received nationally is peer reporting of suicide threats, with bullying being the second most prevalent tip. All established statewide tip lines report that their programs have been successful in receiving large numbers of tips, and the administrators who run those programs say that they believe tragedies have been averted because of the programs. Anecdotally, Nevada officials reported at a recent national school safety tip line conference that the very first day their tip line went live they received a tip that resulted in a potential school shooting being disrupted. Local law enforcement, acting upon the tip, went to a student’s home and found loaded weapons and documentation regarding a planned school attack.

The overarching goal of Safe2Help is getting students help before they harm themselves or others. It is not to identify students for the purpose of suspension, expulsion or arrest except in the most extreme situations, such as the one Nevada officials described. Perhaps not surprising given that the target audience is composed of teenagers, only about 20 percent of the tips in other states come via phone calls. The vast majority of tips have come in by text, the websites associated with the programs or utilizing the free apps that are part of the programs. Tips will be handled by specially trained analysts with extensive training in mental health and public safety embedded in the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) operated by Illinois State Police. Although law enforcement involvement will be behind the scenes, the focus of the program will be providing students, parents, school officials, and the public the tools they need to prevent a tragic event. Other state agencies that will provide primary support for the operation of the program include the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Participation by school districts in Safe2Help Illinois will be purely voluntary and free of charge. The responsibilities of school districts that participate include identifying a minimum of five recipients—including at least one local law enforcement agency. Once tips are vetted by the analysts, the information will be sent immediately to the local recipients. The role of the state analysts then will become following up on the information to see if local school officials or law enforcement officials need any assistance from the state and tracking how the situations have been resolved to monitor regional and statewide trends in order to determine future prevention priorities for the program. A tip regarding a potential suicide, for example, would immediately go to local school officials. The Safe2Help analysts also would provide a list of local or regional mental health providers and/or a reference to the national suicide prevention hotline based upon the needs of those local school officials. The information needs to be sent to local officials as soon as possible, but instead of stopping there, the Safe2Help program will attempt to offer as much help as possible to local officials if such assistance is needed or requested.

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Director of Safety and Security, the Illinois School Psychologists Association and the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. Other school safety recommendations and initiatives As of October of 2019, the SSWG has made 15 school safety recommendations (click here to see the full list) including response protocols, the hardening of school facilities and behavioral and mental health recommendations. Understanding that public schools already have more than 200 unfunded mandates, almost all of the SSWG recommendations are best practice recommendations versus mandates. That said, the General Assembly passed and Governor JB Pritzker signed into law HB 1561, which includes two of the main SSWG recommendations. The first requires K–12 schools to form Behavioral Threat Assessment teams that might include school administrators, counselors, teachers, staff, mental health professionals and local law enforcement to review and determine what interventions, if any, need to take place based on the behaviors of students. A second part of that legislation allows school districts to use Health, Life Safety Tax Levy funds and/or funds from the County School Facilities Sales Tax (for the 51 counties that have passed that sales tax referendum) to hire School Resource Officers (SROs) and/or mental health professionals. Those two tax funds previously have been limited to physical improvements to facilities. Other SSWG recommendations that are currently being implemented include: • The distribution of bleeding control kits as well as offering the 90-minute hands-on American College of Surgeons Stop the Bleed training. The ITTF is distributing one bleeding-control kit to every public and private K–12 attendance center in the state and an additional five kits to every attendance center where at least five teachers/staff members have completed the hands-on training course. The kits are being distributed by the ROE offices. For information, contact Stop the Bleed Project Manager, Barb Oliff, at baoliff@ileas.org . • Free Behavioral Threat Assessment or Site Security Assessment training through the Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center at Western Illinois University. For information, call 309–298–2646 or email schoolsafety@iletsbei.com . For information about any of the SSWG recommendations or initiatives, or to schedule a speaker, please contact me at mike.chamness@illinois.gov or my assistant Deb Clark at Deborah.clark@illinois.gov .

Educationand trainingarekey components The helpline may be the most tangible part of the Safe2Help initiative, but the education and training components of the program may be even more important in terms of prevention and the long-term goal of changing the school safety culture. The Safe2Help program will feature a comprehensive, public- facing website focused on the idea that prevention and early intervention is the key to preventing violence and saving lives. As part of the program’s outreach, trainers will be hired and a school safety curriculum and resources are being developed. We are looking to provide age-appropriate training and resources regarding these topics/issues: • In the lower grades, the difference between “tattling” and “telling” and a “Be Kind” initiative to try at the earliest ages to start to combat bullying. • In the middle grades, adding Internet safety and drug awareness to the curriculum. • At the high school level, adding to the curriculum suicide prevention and a direct appeal to share information with a trusted adult or through the Safe2Help program to get help for students before they harm themselves or others. While the Safe2Help line can offer a way in which to receive and share critical information the day it is activated, the education/training efforts may produce even more benefits over the long term. IASA has been a valuable member of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s School Safety Working Group ever since it was formed in the days following the school shootings in Parkland, Florida in February 2018. IASA Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark was one of the original members. Other IASA representatives on the SSWG include Dr. Roger Alvey, superintendent of Illini Bluffs CUSD #327; Dr. Seth Chapman, assistant superintendent of St. Charles CUSD #303 and Dr. Steve Webb, superintendent of Goreville CUSD #1. In addition to state and local law enforcement agencies and associations, the SSWG also includes the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Principals Association, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Chicago Public Schools

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NewsInBrief

Dr. Harrison-WilliamsNamed ASBAExecutiveDirector

InRemembrance

We are sad to share Michael Alexander passed away on October 9th at the age of 72. Alexander served for six years as superintendent at at Triopia CUSD #27 in Concord and 12 years at Warrensburg-Latham CUSD #11. William “Bill” Hovey passed away November 1 at the age of 90. Hovey served as superintendent of Ball Chatham CUSD #5 from 1963 to 1988.

IASA extends heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Sheila Harrison-Williams, who was recently named executive director of the Arizona School Boards Association. Dr. Harrison-Williams served as IASA President in FY 19 and is

currently an interim superintendent at East Prairie SD #73. She previously served as superintendent at Hazel Crest School District 152-5. Throughout her career, Dr. Harrison-Williams has been a strong advocate for local school district board development, public school funding issues and equity initiatives. She has served on the IASA Board of Directors for the past 13 years and has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Dr. Harrison-Williams begins with the Arizona School Boards Association on January 1, 2020. We wish her the best of luck on her next chapter.

ISBERequestingAssessment Feedback The Illinois State Board of Education has launched a survey to capture feedback on the state’s assessment system. The state board intends to use the feedback to help it fashion changes to the current assessment system. ISBE says it has a vision for statewide assessment that creates a healthy balance between federally required year-end summative testing and formative assessments that actively supports teaching and learning. Click here to access the survey.

ISDLAF+MonthlyUpdate Click here to view the most current ISDLAF+ rates, economic indicators and general economic news brief. To obtain additional information regarding this IASA sponsored service, contact Dr. Donald E. Weber, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations/ISDLAF+ at 630–657–6435. To check daily rates, visit the ISDLAF+ website at www.isdlafplus.com.

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Share your best practices with your colleagues! 56 th CALLFORPRESENTATIONS 2020 Annual Conference

Click here to submit a proposal to present a Breakout Session.

Key Dates:

Submission Deadline: February 28, 2020 Presenters Notified: Late March 2020 Conference Held: Sept. 30–October 2, 2020

Questions: Contact Jodi Gillespie, Panel Coordinator, at 217–753–2213 or jgillespie@iasaedu.org

EXCELLENTMARKETINGOPPORTUNITIES Plus— School ServiceMembers: TakeAdvantageof

CONFERENCE 56 th

Click here to:

Reserve a Booth Host a Hospitality Suite for Attendees Sponsor an Event, Meal or General Session

ANNUAL

Sept. 30–Oct. 2, 2020